The warm spring air is a welcome relief Cold winter In most parts of the United States, but thousands of seasonal allergic patients are buried in pollen tsunamis, sneezing, headaches, watery eyes and plush sinuses, sending them indoors right away.
Atlanta already has it Break pollen count record14,801 grains per cubic meter spewed out from pine, oak and birch. Houston The highest pollen count since records began in 2013 were also reported.
this American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA) predicts that 2025 will be another year for seasonal allergies nationwide, with the worst cities in the southern United States. Your red eyes and runny nose won’t deceive you – seasonal allergies are getting worse and worse, almost a tragic reality One-third of adults and one-quarter of children in the United States.
Why? Sneezing and sniffing are some of these The siren of climate change. In fact, pollen has now become a threat in recent years due to warming in some parts of the United States. Pollen is the main trigger for seasonal allergies, which appeared earlier this year at higher concentrations and continue to grow longer and longer for the year. “In the spring, the first pollen allergen starts from the trees, which starts 20 days earlier than 30 years ago.” Kenneth MendezCEO of AAFA. The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration directly induces plants to produce more pollen, while extending the temperature conditions that trigger pollen production in plants.
“We’ve been hearing all the time, ‘I’ve never been allergic, and now I suddenly feel like I’m allergic, or ‘I feel my allergic is getting worse’, because the allergic load is much higher due to climate change.”
For most people, seasonal allergies are an unpleasant hassle. But there are millions of feelings Burley At the same time, it increases the huge economic burden lost by productivity. Asthma, allergic rhinitis – a condition you might call hay fever and related allergic conditions Spend the economy billions of dollars Every year on weekdays, medications and doctor visits.
There are also some people who are a more serious problem that can lead to dangerous complications or exacerbate other health problems. A study found that allergies in tree pollen can cause 25,000 to 50,000 emergency room visits Every year, two-thirds of people under the age of 18.
Over time, as pollen counts increase, more and more people with sensitivity thresholds find these tiny grains a dangerously difficult method. Others have also found that as some of the tiniest pollen grains seeped into them, doors and windows could not protect them.
“If the trend line continues, I think more and more people will feel pain from allergies,” Mendes said.
How we make our allergies worse
The problem with allergic patients is that their body defense mechanisms can sometimes overreact. Often, it can lead to mild, easy-to-treat symptoms. But allergens can also trigger more serious complications Asthma attackcausing panting, tight chest and shortness of breath. On rare occasions, they Can cause allergic reactionsa systemic reaction, the airway can expand and blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels.
The vast majority of pollen allergies are more annoying than danger, but seasonal pollen is everywhere and almost impossible to avoid, sneaking into the room through vents, window seals, clothes and pet fur.
Some people are more sensitive than others, but even for those with mild allergies, relentless, growing exposure can exacerbate the pain. The size of pollen particles from 100 drops to less than 10 micrometerslet them penetrate deep into the lungs and stimulate the airway. Many types of plants release pollen as part of their reproductive cycle. Generally speaking, Trees spread pollen in springgrass all summer, weeds in autumn.
However, the historical pollen timing mode has changed.
Almost earlier in the year, the pollen of trees falls off in branches. Some grass see them Pollen release date has been delayed by nearly a month Although their overall season has grown longer. As a result, the grass pollen is increasingly related to Ragweed Pollen SeasonSince 1995, some parts of the country have extended it themselves for more than three weeks.
There are two key mechanisms that drive this trend, both due to human appetite for fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil and natural gas increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Directly induce more pollen to produce many plant species. Carbon dioxide can make plants grow bigger and faster, and Generate more flowersresulting in more pollen. More pollen will lead to more seeds, which means more plants spray pollen in the next season.
Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are also heating the Earth and changing the climate. Usually, this means Warm, shorter winter and Earlier springswhich leads to longer growing seasons for plants. As global average temperatures rise, these trends will continue, making allergies a huge public health burden.
Some parts of the country, such as Texas, are expected to see Almost twice the number of pollen By 2050, compared with 2000.
You need not only worry about the pollen
For many people, allergies are another complication beyond other health and environmental conditions. Air pollution from ozone, particles, sulfur and nitrogen compounds can cause their own breathing problems, but when they intersect with allergies, they can Make the symptoms worse. Road pollution can cause pollen from nearby plants More effective in triggering allergic reactions. Smoke in wildfires It may also exacerbate allergies.
The city may not provide much shelter. Changing landscapes like urbanization can create More favorable habitat For plants such as grilled vegetables. Urban centers also tend to warm up faster than rural environments and experience higher concentrations of air pollutants, thus complicating the effects of allergies. These factors are especially effective in low-income and underserved communities.
Pollen is not the only allergen that changes with climate. Temperature rise and precipitation in some areas are Increase the number and duration of allergic mold. Extreme weather further exacerbates the problem as damage and damage brings conditions to more mold. Last year in New Orleans, it was obvious Hurricane Francin Soaked in the city.
“When these storms broke out, they caused a huge damage to the country’s landscape. Some communities had the resources to move in immediately, repair roofs and patch windows, and then we had a lot of people who didn’t have those resources at all. In the case of roof leaks, your indoor growth room.” John Carlsonhe leads the high-risk allergy department at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans. “Because it is so warm, we can grow mold all year round as long as there is moisture.”
Strong winds in the storm can also whip the dust, which can then cause asthma. In addition, there is another phenomenon called Thunderstorm asthmaweather conditions are OK Cracked pollen granules Become smaller, more allergic fragments, causing asthma attacks.
It is not clear whether the number of seasonal allergies is increasing. Carlson said the U.S. may be approaching a steady number of people. At the same time, there are other diseases that may have allergic symptoms, and at a sufficiently high concentration, even those without allergies will breathe.
Carlson said: “In New Orleans, we have a lot of oak pollen – I mean, there’s a lot of oak pollen in the air – and you usually have a lot of people who don’t have an eye allergy to the eyes and the eyes don’t have a harsh smell.
The good news is that there are multiple ways to include the worst effects of seasonal allergies. For people with a history of seasonal allergies, seeing patients with allergies and finding out their specific triggers and the work of the medication is key. It may make sense to start taking medications such as nose sprays or over-the-counter allergic medications before pollen rises.
“We usually say that your system will bring your medication nearly two weeks ahead of time because it takes some time to build up,” Mendes said. For those who don’t know if they have allergies but are worried about threats, be aware of your symptoms and see patients with allergies if you do start experiencing irritating eyes and airways. For people with severe allergies, they also have more active interventions to other responses to other drugs (also known as desensitization therapy) Allergic lenses.
Some of the same measures to avoid air pollution also apply to pollen. Pay attention to your local pollen predictions. Avoid high powder release times, especially in the morning, avoid outside and closing doors and windows. Put your coat and shoes outside or lock them before you get settled in your home. Wipe the dog after a walk. Use HEPA air filters in your living space.
In the long run, emissions of caloric gases that aggravate climate change and allergies have been carefully curbed. Currently, keep the organization close.
